it's all about LOVE...

the 2nd "make art" challenge

 begins today & the theme is 

HEARTS/LOVE...

it's a nice broad theme...

so however you choose to interpret it will be cool...

here's my contribution to the challenge...

first of all...

remember...

there are no rules in art!

not every Valentine needs to be red...

I started with a 3 x 4 ¼ inch manila cardstock scrap & used the splattered plaster technique with tea rose archival & a tiny bit of tree branch...

you can read about

the technique in this post...

after it was dried, I used jet black to 

stamp my sentiment...

I inked some gold wings with 

watering can archival & 

then embossed them with 

watering can embossing powder...

the wings start out like this...

it's a simple 

total transformation...

and with more embossing powders to choose from, we have more color options...

the next step was to ink 

the old wood floor background stamp 

with tree branch & stamp over my card...

it looked like this...

I used brushed corduroy to ink over the whole card...

then used watering can to stamp 

the small flourishes...

watering can is awesome when used with jet black...

you can see that in the next photo...

the jet black sentiment really pops...

and the flourishes are in the background, 

right where they belong...

I inked the chain stamp with watering can & stamped it between the flourishes...

the heart below was cut with 

tim's movers & shapers heart... 

it's a Sizzix die...

it's cut from the 

new white "magic mat board"...

the heart was inked lightly 

with orange blossom archival, 

then stamped with 

this stripes stamp, 

using watering can...

to add more layers to the background, I used the new vintage ledger stencil 

with tree branch archival to stencil random areas...

sorry for the glare...

my studio has skylights, which I LOVE, but they sometimes are annoying for photos...

you'll see that some areas are light & some are a little darker...

 that tiny addition of the stenciling makes the background much better...

every detail matters!

I added my card to a slightly larger black cardstock panel, then to a coordinating cardstock base...

the ideology heart charm was customized with a new correspondence remnant rub...

using the new remnant rub tool...

(I'll show you a new use for the tool tomorrow)

I used a mini fastener to add it to the wings & heart...

I also like to use a mini fastener at the top of the chain to make it more realistic...

now it doesn't appear to be hanging in mid air...

glue it together...

this is the result...

here's a closer look...

I love the different textures...

the "plaster", the heart, the embossed wings

and the little flourishes 

peeking out from under the heart...

it's a very simple quick creation, 

but the multiple textures make it special...

so that's my non traditional Valentine!

I had several questions to answer...

#1. I have the adirondack snow cap reinker for my ink pad. can that be used with glacier white, if it's the same ink...

YES, you can. NO PROBLEM, since it is the same ink, just rebranded with a new name...

#2. what is the size of the stamp in the new faux graniteware starter set? I'm not sure I need another one.

   it's about 1/4th the size...

I wanted to include a stamp with the mat board & instructions, to make a complete kit to get you started with the technique...

this mini sized stamp is so nice for working on small surfaces & especially curved surfaces like the glass vase I showed in the previous post...

here's a photo to compare them...

the large spatter background 

is on the left & the new mini is on the right...

#3. Have you tested other inks to see if they work with the splattered plaster you showed us?

   I had the big idea to try the technique using the metallic distress spray stains...in my mind, since like the picket fence, they too have pigments, I thought I might get "metallic" plaster...

BUT...

sorry to report...

it did NOT work...

at all...NO clumps...

NONE!

so don't waste your time...

some experiments work...this one didn't...

stick with the picket fence...

it's magic & it works every time!

as far as other brands, I'm familiar with Ranger products & that's what I use & LOVE...

so...I really don't have any other info to offer...

#4. I got the foil packet for Christmas, but have no idea what to do with it. how does it work? do you have any examples of how you've used it?

ah yes I do...

that's tomorrow's blog post...

stay tuned!

#5. THANK YOU for the faux graniteware glass tut. I'm on it. One question. How did you prep the glass?

I did not prep the glass at all...

 I've done it on multiple glass surfaces...

tim's corked vials was the original test piece, 

since they're small...

it has worked perfectly every time...

HOWEVER...

I'm thinking that if you're recycling something...

possibly a salad dressing bottle or something that is oily, maybe a make-up bottle,

then I'd make sure to wash it to remove the oil...

if you read the instructions on the Ranger blog, you'll see that you need to use archival ink...

if you use embossing ink under the embossing powder, it will peel right off...

my new motto is...

EMBOSS it...

DON'T TOSS IT!

or maybe...

DON'T TOSS IT...

EMBOSS it!

that's it for today...

I hope you'll join the challenge...

there is a PRIZE!

our sponsor this month is Linda, 

owner of the funkie junkie & she's giving a $25.00 gift certificate to a random participant!

don't forget to visit the Ranger blog  & enter to win a set of my new archival inks & embossing powders...

they are choosing 3 lucky winners!

make sure to read the intro...

there are several ways to enter...

more chances to WIN!

now it's time for me to...

make art!

wendy